Two archdiocesan priests were elected to the Senate of Priests at the regular monthly meeting of the Senate held at Sacred heart Church last week. Father M. Jariath Burke, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Athens, was elected to fill the unexpired term of two years for Father Dale Freeman who has been given a leave-of-absence to study at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Succeeding the late Father Harry Phillips, Father John McDonough, pastor of Holy Spirit Church, was elected to a two-year term to represent the retired priests.

The Senate of Priests has been in existence for one year. According to the election rules and depending upon the approval of the Constitution those elected to the Senate, in each group classification, were to be designated to serve either a two-year term or a three-year term. At last week’s meeting these selections were made. Representing the priests ordained over 20 years, Father Walter Donovan, president of the Senate, was chosen to serve a three-year term and Msgr. Michael Manning a two-year term. In the 10-to-20 year classification, Father Don Kiernan, vice president of the Senate, was named to the three-year term and Father John Stapeleton to the two-year term.

Father Eusebius J. Beltran was named to serve a three-year term and Father M. Jarlath Burke was named to the two-year post in the 5-to-10-year ordination group. Father Paul Kelly, secretary-treasurer of the Senate, will serve for three-years and Father Michael Anthony Morris will serve for two years in the 1-to-5-year ordination group.

The Religious in the archdiocese will be represented by Father Thomas Roshetko, S.M., for three years and Father Frank Ruff of the Glenmary Fathers who will serve for two years.

A general meeting of the clergy held in November voted that two additional members-at-large should served on the Senate. One of these members would be chosen from the archdiocesan clergy while the other would be selected from the religious clergy. At last week’s meeting it was determined that the priest chosen from the archdiocesan clergy would serve on the Senate for three years on the Senate for three years and the priest chosen form the religious working in the archdiocese would serve for two years.